Richard Wiesman, professor of the practice in mechanical engineering, dies at age 69

Richard M. Wiesman ’76, SM ’76, PhD ’83, a teacher of the method in the MIT Division of Mechanical Design (MechE), passed away on Sunday, Jan. 7. He was 69.

An innovation trendsetter and leader that saw several complicated design systems get to the market, Wiesman’s job covered from lab growth to area implementation. His wide abilities in all elements of automation and robotics — consisting of layout, control, interactions, mobility, actuation, noticing, and power — brought a special point of view to the education and learning of MIT pupils and made him a remarkable teacher, coach, and coworker.

” Dr. Wiesman’s excellent excitement for training, in parallel with his notable market profession, was a remarkable ideas for our pupils,” claims John Hart, division head and teacher of mechanical design. “We will certainly miss him significantly.”

Wiesman was a speaker in MechE in the very early 1980s and from 2005 to 2007, and was called teacher of the method in 2007. He educated and oversaw research study in the locations of layout, item growth, robotics, controls, and production, and acted as co-director of MIT’s Area and Room Robotics Lab. Over the last few years he offered on the training groups for programs 2.00 B, 2.007, 2.008, 2.009, and 2.810, and collaborated with and motivated several generations of pupils, consisting of as a 2.009 trainer last loss.

Wiesman was born upon Oct. 7, 1954, to Harold and Elaine Wiesman. He had 2 bros, John and Ron, and matured in Omaha, Nebraska, prior to concerning research at MIT. Wiesman gained his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels in MechE at MIT. His doctoral thesis got on high-speed straight induction devices for transport applications, which led him to service the united state Navy’s Electromagnetic Airplane Release System and the Advanced Arresting Equipment system.

Wiesman’s service mobile robotics began with the growth of a brand-new course of eruptive ordnance disposal robotics, which turned into an effective service in mobile robotics for dangerous ground-based tasks — consisting of unique robotics for inner pipeline evaluation, robotics for storehouse and packaging tasks, and evaluation of robotic group qualities for global expedition.

Wiesman operated at Foster Miller/QinetiQ for over 40 years, beginning as a designer and finishing his period as the exec vice head of state and primary modern technology police officer. Most lately, he acted as an elderly other for General Atomics and as a participant of Toolbox Funding’s Industrial Development Board of advisers. In 2021, he shared reflections on his career in mechanical engineering with MechE pupils, informing them in his summation, “I think you have actually picked a definitely remarkable profession.”

The Institute is likewise where Wiesman fulfilled his partner of 44 years, Suzanne. With each other, they took excellent satisfaction in taking a trip, treking, snowshoeing, being with pals, and above all, increasing their 3 kids.

Wiesman is endured by his partner; his boy Josh and partner Kristina; his boy David and partner Haley; his boy Ben and partner Emily; and his grandchildren, Elena, John, William, and Julian, in whom he thrilled as “Papa.”

Instead of blossoms, the household asks to please think abouta donation to the American Heart Association